Schools

School of Natural Sciences

Biology (Bachelor of Arts)

The liberal arts track and biology core curriculum expose the student to major subject areas in biology while providing considerable flexibility for each student. For example, minimal mathematics and chemistry requirements allow students to develop minor subject areas or a second major in another science area, or in an outside field such as sociology, journalism, business or geosciences. This degree is suitable for students who may apply for admission into law school or for those who seek employment in business, environmental studies, or industry. Biology major courses may be repeated only a limited number of times including late withdrawals.

The B.A. degree will not automatically fulfill requirements for entrance into medical, dental, optometry, medical technology, other allied health programs, or most graduate school programs. Students desiring eventual admission into a professional program or laboratory-related fields should follow the B.S. in Biology degree program.

 Student Learning Goals

  1. Students will have a broad understanding of biology.
  2. Students will be able to analyze and critique biological data.
  3. Students will be able to evaluate and synthesize biological information from multiple sources.
  4. Students will demonstrate a broad range of biological skills.
  5. Students will present scientific work orally.
  6. Students will present scientific work in writing.


Degree/Certificate Requirements

See “General Requirements for Undergraduate Degrees at IU Southeast” and “General Requirements for the Bachelor of Arts Degree.”

General Education Component

Note: This is not a re-statement of the University’s General Education Requirement but a list of specific General Education courses which are also requirements or pre-requisites for course work in the school/major.


Dept.

Course Number

Title

Credit Hours

Minimum Grade

 Pre-reqs

CSCI-C

106

Introduction to Computers & Their Use

3

C

None

MATH-M

122

125 or

126

Quantitative Reasoning: College Algebra 

Pre-Calculus Mathematics

or Trigonometric Functions

3

 

C

 

P: MATH-M 102 or Placement

CHEM-C

101 and

121

Natural Sciences: Elementary Chemistry I and Lab

3/2

C

None

Core Program

The program is divided into three tiers and students are expected to complete the courses with a C before they move to the next tier.  Failure to do so may result in poor academic performance. 

Tier 1:  Biology BIOL-L101, BIOL-L102, BIOL-L211, and BIOL-L317/ZOOL-Z318 or BIOL-L 346 or PLSC-B373 or PLSC-B 375 (w/permission); Chemistry C101/C121, CHEM-C102/C122. 

Tier 2:  Biology BIOL-L311/L319, PHSL-P416/P418 or PLSC-B370, Organismal Diversity requirement. 

Tier 3:  Biology Ecology requirement, BIOL-L318, BIOL-L312, BIOL-L403, Required Upper Level elective(s) 5 or 6 credits.


Dept .

Course Number

Title

Credit Hours

Minimum Grade

Pre-reqs

 

 

 Tier 1

 

 

 

BIOL-L

101

Introduction to Biological Sciences 1

5

C

None

BIOL-L

102

Introduction to Biological Sciences 2

5

C

None

BIOL-L

211

Molecular Biology

3

C

P: BIOL-L 101, BIOL-L 102, and CHEM-C101 or CHEM-C105 with a C or better

BIOL-L

BIOL-Z

317

318

Developmental Biology

Developmental Biology Lab

3/2

 

C

P: BIOL-L 101, BIOL-L102

C: BIOL-L 317

OR 

 

 
BIOL-L 346

Survey of Molecular Developmental Biology 

 5 

 C

 BIOL-L 101, BIOL-L 102

OR 

 

 

PLSC-B

373

Plant Growth & Development 

5

 C

 None

OR

 

 

PLSC-B 

375 

Horticulture Plants (with Coordinator permission)

5 

 C

 None

AND

 

 

CHEM-C

101

Elementary Chemistry I

3

C

None

CHEM-C

121

Elementary Chemistry I Lab

2

C

C: CHEM-C101

CHEM-C

102

Elementary Chemistry II

3

C

R: CHEM-C101

CHEM-C

122

Elementary Chemistry II lab

2

C

C: CHEM-C102

Tier 2

 

 

BIOL-L

BIOL-L

311

319

Genetics

Genetics Lab

3/3

C

P: BIOL-L 211

C: BIOL-L 311

PHSL-P

PHSL-P

416 &

418

Comparative Animal Physiology

Lab in Comparative Animal Physiology

3/2

C

P: BIOL-L 211

C: PHSL-P 416

OR

 

 

PLSC-B

370 

Plant Physiology 

 5 

 C

 None

AND

 

 

Organismal Diversity Requirement (one 5 credit course - choose from PLSC-B 364, MICR-M 310/315, or ZOOL-Z 373/383)

 

 

PLSC-B

MICR-M

MICR-M

ZOOL-Z

ZOOL-Z

364

310

315

373

383

Summer Flowering Plants

Microbiology

Microbiology Lab

Entomology

Laboratory in Entomology

 5

3

2

3

2

 C

None

P: BIOL-L211

C: MICR-M310

None

C: ZOOL-Z383

Tier 3

 

 

 Biology Ecology Requirement (choose from BIOL-L 303, BIOL-L 343, BIOL-L 473, or MICR-M 420/BIOL-L 474

 

 

BIOL-L

BIOL-L

BIOL-L

MICR-M

BIOL-L

303 

343

437

420

474

Field Biology OR 

Applied Conservation Biology OR

Ecology OR

Environmental Microbiology AND

Laboratory in Ecology

3

5

3

3

3

C

P: One BIOL course

BIOL-L 211 w/ grade of C or better

P: BIOL-L 211

P: BIOL-L 211

P: BIOL-L211
C: BIOL-L473 or MICR-M 420

AND

 

 

BIOL-L

318

Evolution

5

C

P: BIOL-L 311

BIOL-L

312

Cell Biology

3

C

P: BIOL-L 211

BIOL-L

403

Biology Seminar 

 1 

C

P: Senior Standing 

Any biology course(s)

300-level or above

Required Biology Elective

5 or

3/3

C

 

General Electives

Other elective(s) to equal a minimum of 120 credit hours.

Academic Bulletins

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